THE WALL OF FACES

"An God said who shall we send.I answered I am here,send me."

Isaiah 6:8

My father, a Vietnam Veteran, gave me your bracelet today, after years of holding onto it for his own remembrance. My tears were sudden, and unexpected. I shed tears for your loss, tears for my father's losses, tears for America's losses. I will never forget, and my daughter will be raised with this knowledge, lest she ever forgets.

I got his bracelet in Jr. High, and still have it at 46 years old. Now I finally put a person to it. Missing you.

I purchased my only POW braclet from the head of the local VFW in Waukegan IL in May of 1988. I was a small child during the Vietnam war and never really knew much about the war other than what vague remeberances I can muster up from the news. I had always wanted to get a braclet when I was growing up for the only reason of to say I cared and remembered not just for the veterans of that war but all wars in which our great country has been involved. The braclet I got was that of Col. Claxton. The name wasn't important at that time but letting others knew I cared was. I have worn that bracelet religiously since then only removing it when absolutely necessary. In May of 2000, my wife returned home from a business trip to Washingon. Upon her arrival she told me she had visited the memorial and then showed me the rubbing she had taken from Col. Claxton's name. I instantly broke down into tears. The name I had carried around my wrist for years now had a face. Later that summer I took my family on a vacation out east and made a point of visiting the wall myself. Again it was an emotional experience. Today 11-8-2001, my 11 year old son returned from school telling me of a web sight I could go to to find out more about "that guy who's name is on your wrist". After visiting the sight I discovered that Col. Claxton had indeed been found. This was new information to me although I had tried to find more out on my trip to Washington. Today I will remove your name from my wrist and place it in a keep sake box of mine forever. I do offer up this braclet to the family of Col. Claxton as a show of appreciation for all they and other have given to preserve peace. I can be reached via e-mail.

Would like to return bracelet to family if they would like it.

Also have a rubbing from the traveling wall that recently visted us in Mobile, Alabama.

A F Payne